Faces of Aliwan (Aliwan Fiesta 2015)

Aliwan Fiesta, dubbed as “The Mother of All Fiestas” or “The Philippines Grandest Fiesta,” is the annual gathering if different cultural festivals if the Philippines. The term, Aliwan, is a Tagalog word for “entertainment” or “amusement.” The fiesta parade starts rom Quirino Grand stand to Star City Complex in Pasay City where the different contingents compete in their cultural street dance, float parade, and beauty pageant -- Reyna ng Aliwan (Queen of Aliwan). It aims to showcase the different Filipino culture, heritage and promoting their respective beliefs and religion. Each of the country’s 17 regions have the option to send at most 2 representing contingents for the street dance, as well as the representing float and Reyna ng Aliwan.

I have long wanted to attend this grand event ever since I started working in Manila but just had the chance after 5 years! My friends and I were not particular to the flow of the event, we went to the assembly area at Quirino to get some portraits and then to Star City Complex to watch the dance competition, missing the parade in the process. So, I’m looking forward to do that next year. Meanwhile, here are some of the faces of Aliwan captured by my camera last weekend:

Elal is a traveler, student of life and photography enthusiast who wants to experience and capture what is raved and not raved about. For more about her travels, subscribe here, email at elal.lasola@gmail.com, or visit her portfolio.